Which specialties allow you to be the most in touch with “science”?

[965978]

I know pathology and radiology are probably two of them. But what about surgery? Or ENT/optho?

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[Med Ed]

I know what science is, but could you define "science"?

 

[965978]

I know what science is, but could you define "science"?

Interpreting scans/microscope slides, coming up with a surgical plan, doing a surgery, coming up with a medical plan, delivery anesthesia, reviewing medications, etc.

I know that all specialties have two sides: “science” and admin/social work. The latter would consist of charting, dealing with insurance, going to ethic meetings, etc. I also believe that all specialties have a balance between the two. And I just wanted to get an idea of which specialties tip more towards the science side 🙂

Also, my knowledge of how the medical field works is still just at a pre-med level. So feel free to tell me I’m talking out of my ass if that’s the case!

 

[Med Ed]

Interpreting scans/microscope slides, coming up with a surgical plan, doing a surgery, coming up with a medical plan, delivery anesthesia, reviewing medications, etc.

None of that is "science." It's clinical practice.

Your thread would be better titled "Which specialties have the least paperwork?"

 

[965978]

None of that is "science." It's clinical practice.

Your thread would be better titled "Which specialties have the least paperwork?"

So what would “science” be in medicine?

 

[ihoop24]

I think every surgical subspecialty is pretty scienc-y. I mean you're literally opening people up and you have to know everything around that area very well as well as how the rest of the body will react.

 

[Isoval]

So what would “science” be in medicine?

"Science", as I think you're referring to it, would likely apply to the following specialties:
Pathology

And yeah, that's about it.

In short, all medical specialties incorporate "science". Physicians are simply applied scientists. Yeah, you're involved with patients and you're doing charting, but you're still going to prescribe colchicine to a patient with an inflammatory disorder because you know it'll inhibit cell migration and thus limit the ability of the body to furnish an immune response. It's everywhere in every medical specialty.

 

[Isoval]

I think every surgical subspecialty is pretty scienc-y. I mean you're literally opening people up and you have to know everything around that area very well as well as how the rest of the body will react.

I was actually going to say that surgery tends to be the least "sciency" as I think Clam is referring to it.

A vast part of surgery is knowing the anatomy and comparatively little of your basic science as it relates to other specialties.

 

[vrazzles]

Science, IMO, is the understanding of the basic biological principles underlying human disease and the underlying chemical/physicial principles of those. Science is knowledge for the sake of knowledge - if you want to do pure science, go into research.

Perhaps what you mean to ask is "which medical specialty requires the largest amount of scientific knowledge and application?"

That would be a hard thing to quantify and would depend on factors such as patient base and practice model. Some internal medicine physicians constantly refer to latest publications to treat disease, while others treat sniffles and strep-throat most of the day using techniques that have remained relatively unchanged for a while.

Be the physician you want to be - if your interest is to apply science, I think that you should be able to do this in most medical specializations as long as you remember the basic principles and keep up with new ones.

 

[907914]

The MOST in touch with science? Probably dual Anatomical and Clinical Pathology. In Anatomical, you get to do the whole slides thing. In Clinical, you can oversee a medical laboratory which is about the most scienc-y part of the hospital.

 

[907914]

I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of material I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description...[science]..., and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it...
--Justice Potter Stewart
United States Supreme Court
Jacobellis v. Ohio

This is one of my favorite Supreme Court verdicts. Just the fact that the definition of pornographers even has to be a legal matter in the first place...

 

[deleted903608]

I think every surgical subspecialty is pretty scienc-y. I mean you're literally opening people up and you have to know everything around that area very well as well as how the rest of the body will react.

I actually think the opposite is true. Surgeons know their anatomy cold. Anatomy isn't super "science"-y, it's more like learning a road map. They don't have to know as much physiology or basic science in their clinical practice. On the other hand, IM specialties like cards and nephrology know so much phys and pathophys about their specific organ/system. Nephrologists not only know everything about the kidney, but so much about how electrolytes are balanced and their effects on the entire body, acid-base physiology, a lot of pharmacology, etc.

And this is coming from a med student with no interest in IM who intends to pursue a surgical subspecialty.

 

[Med Ed]

So what would “science” be in medicine?

Your thread, you tell me.

 

[seanm028]

This is one of my favorite Supreme Court verdicts. Just the fact that the definition of pornographers even has to be a legal matter in the first place...

 

[965978]

Your thread, you tell me.

I don’t know. I thought I did, but obviously I was wrong. And it’s ok to be wrong. As I said previously, I’m just a pre-med so my knowledge and experience is limited. You’re a physician, so you have been through the process and understand the medical field much better than I do.

Although if I had to answer, I would say that clinical practice doesn’t have “science” at all if you go by the definition that science is the discovery of natural processes.

 

[907914]

I don’t know. I thought I did, but obviously I was wrong. And it’s ok to be wrong. As I said previously, I’m just a pre-med so my knowledge and experience is limited. You’re a physician, so you have been through the process and understand the medical field much better than I do.

I mean, if you want to get technical science is not a subject to learn but rather the process of trial and error to discover new things. So in my opinion, the entire profession of being a physician is science because the whole point is to collect data via test results and exams analyze that data and produce new information via diagnoses and treatment plans. That’s why having a science background is great. This is my pretentious answer my real answer is above.

 

[965978]

I mean, if you want to get technical science is not a subject to learn but rather the process of trial and error to discover new things. So in my opinion, the entire profession of being a physician is science because the whole point is to collect data via test results and exams analyze that data and produce new information via diagnoses and treatment plans. That’s why such as signs have your background is great. This is my pretentious answer my real answer is above.

I didn’t understand your second to last sentence.

 

[907914]

This deserves more appreciation.

 

[907914]

I didn’t understand your second to last sentence.

Sorry, voice to text. Edited.

 

[IMGASMD]

This deserves more appreciation.

That was great. Just spent 7 mins of my life for a great laugh!

 

[Goro]

I know pathology and radiology are probably two of them. But what about surgery? Or ENT/optho?

Offhand, my guess is Oncology, Neurology, Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. If reconstructive and/or regenerative medicine is an actual field, add that to the list.

 

[907914]

Offhand, my guess is Oncology, Neurology, Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. If reconstructive and/or regenerative medicine is an actual field, add that to the list.

Just thought of this: You can also do a residency in Genetics now. So that is nifty.

 

[Goro]

Just thought of this: You can also do a residency in Genetics now. So that is nifty.

This is a thing????

 

[907914]

This is a thing????

List of Accredited Programs | ABMGG

www.abmgg.org

 

[ihoop24]

I actually think the opposite is true. Surgeons know their anatomy cold. Anatomy isn't super "science"-y, it's more like learning a road map. They don't have to know as much physiology or basic science in their clinical practice. On the other hand, IM specialties like cards and nephrology know so much phys and pathophys about their specific organ/system. Nephrologists not only know everything about the kidney, but so much about how electrolytes are balanced and their effects on the entire body, acid-base physiology, a lot of pharmacology, etc.

And this is coming from a med student with no interest in IM who intends to pursue a surgical subspecialty.

I can definitely agree with that.

 

[PhillyMed777]

There is very little science in any clinical practice. The only field that qualifies to the original question is pathology.

 

[Mad Jack]

Immunology, critical care, nephrology, endocrinology, neurology, and pathology.

 

[Mad Jack]

I think every surgical subspecialty is pretty scienc-y. I mean you're literally opening people up and you have to know everything around that area very well as well as how the rest of the body will react.

Anatomy isn't science any more than knowing how to rebuild a car's engine is science. You can know either without understanding what any of the parts actually do beyond a basic understanding

 

[IMGASMD]

Although if I had to answer, I would say that clinical practice doesn’t have “science” at all if you go by the definition that science is the discovery of natural processes.

That’s why people are pushing for your understanding of the word “science.” It’s like “porn”. You may think you understand it, you’ve seen it with your own eyes, but someone may not define “soft core” as porn. So need to have a working definition to go on.

For instance, the word “natural” in your reply, the definition is “existing in or caused by nature; not made or caused by humankind.” If I add vitamin C to orange juice, is the orange juice still natural? Vitamin C exists without being made by mankind, right?

If you’re asking, do you need to be a great scientist to be a great physician, the answer is probably not necessary. You need to understand the process of scientific methods, and how to evaluate that information to refine your clinical “practice”. We practice daily on patients to make perfect.

The answers you maybe looking for.
If you want to study “basic science” being a “physician” may not be my first choice. And pathologist maybe a “scientist” on more frequent basis than other specialities.

Had an attending who had a fellowship in medical genetics. Became a hospitalist. not much can be done with genetic diseases back then, isn’t much can be done right now either.... and no treatment usually means no payments.

 

[907914]

So to summarize this thread: Welcome to “Whose line is it anyway,” where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter!

 

[IMGASMD]

So to summarize this thread: Welcome to “Whose line is it anyway,” where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter!

The medical edition.

I am still looking for the definition of porn TBH.

 

[907914]

Rule 43 exists for a reason. Everything is porn to someone.

 

[IgEdoc]

Agree with Mad Jack on Immunology. The specialty of Allergy & Immunology is really a divided field with those seeking clinical work heading into Allergy while those seeking the Immunology part of the specialty focusing more on the science (research). With 2 academic organizations in the specialty, the AAAAI is largely focused on basic immunology in their journals and at their annual Spring meetings while the ACAAI is largely clinical at their Fall meetings

 

[907914]

Agree with Mad Jack on Immunology. The specialty of Allergy & Immunology is really a divided field with those seeking clinical work heading into Allergy while those seeking the Immunology part of the specialty focusing more on the science (research). With 2 academic organizations in the specialty, the AAAAI is largely focused on basic immunology in their journals and at their annual Spring meetings while the ACAAI is largely clinical at their Fall meetings

Looks like the AAAAI is an mRNA getting ready to exit the nucleus for translation #polyAtail.

 

[nimbus]

Oncology is very data driven. More than most other specialties.

 

[907914]

If either of these tests were strictly applied today, much of TV could be considered "utterly without redeeming social importance,"her of thes

Hence why it is silly that it got to the supreme court in the first place. The general public is obviously complacent enough to not follow these recommendations.

 

[IMGASMD]

Thank you for the educational read.